Saskatoonis the largest city in theCanadianprovince ofSaskatchewan. Straddling a bend in theSouth Saskatchewan Riverand located along theTrans-CanadaYellowhead Highway, it is centrally located in the province and has served as the cultural and economic hub of the region since its establishment in 1882 as aTemperancecolony.
The city is home to theUniversity of Saskatchewan, theMeewasin Valley Authoritywhich protects the South Saskatchewan River and provides for the city's popular riverbank park spaces, andWanuskewin Heritage Park, aNational Historic Site of Canadarepresenting nearly 6,000 years ofFirst Nationshistory.
There is a significantIndigenouspopulation in the city, and several urbanReserveswithin its boundaries. It is known for its relatively diverse and vibrant culture, as well as its eight (plus two planned) river crossings, earning it thenicknames"Paris of the Prairies" and "Bridge City."
Historic neighbourhoods of Saskatoon includeNutanaandRiversdale, which were both separate towns before amalgamating with the town of Saskatoon and incorporating as a city in 1906. Nutana, Riversdale, their historic main streets ofBroadway Avenueand20th Streetrespectively, as well as thedowntown coreand other central neighbourhoods, are seeing significant reinvestment and redevelopment today. Similarly, the old rail town ofSutherlandwas annexed by the city in 1956 and is now another historic neighbourhood of Saskatoon, just beyond theUniversitylands.